A love bridge made of little hearts which extends between Turkey and Egypt!

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A love bridge made of little hearts which extends between Turkey and Egypt!

Professor Tayyar Sarıoğlu, one of the few experts of the world in pediatric cardiovascular surgery, restored hundreds of Egyptian children to health by successfully performing surgeries previously claimed to be “impossible”. Professor Tayyar Sarıoğlu, head of the cardiovascular surgery departments in both Acıbadem University and Acıbadem Bakırköy Hospital, has operated on the hearts of over 300 Egyptian children so far and recently met with the said children -each of whom could not stop smiling- and their families in the Red Crescent Building in Cairo. The event became the setting for both emotional and entertaining moments; the young hearts formed a bridge of love, peace and friendship between Turkey and Egypt.

The conditions of the young Egyptian children in question required complex operations. All of them had undergone surgery twice while some had even undergone a third operation and none of them had recovered. Only highly experienced surgeons who had access to the technology available to merely a few centers in the world could help them overcome the diseases. Being one of the few pediatric cardiovascular surgery experts in the entire world and residing in Turkey, the rising star of medical tourism, Professor Tayyar Sarıoğlu was the person to restore the children to health. In a recently organized event, Professor Tayyar Sarıoğlu, head of the cardiovascular surgery departments in both Acıbadem University and Acıbadem Bakırköy Hospital, met with the hundreds of children whom he helped recover by performing highly risky surgeries, many of which were claimed to be “impossible”. The event, which was held in the Red Crescent building in Cairo with participation of both the children and their families, became the setting for both sentimental and entertaining moments. The children who regained their health with the help of the Turkish surgeon performed plays and had fun to their hearts’ content with the joy of having left their illnesses behind; these uniquely emotional moments were immortalized with group photographs.

1 million babies are born with congenital heart diseases in the world every year

Professor Tayyar Sarıoğlu states that the number of babies born with congenital heart diseases in the world -and mostly in developing countries- every year is 1 million, and underlines the unfortunate fact that while all children born with heart diseases should have access to means of diagnosis and treatment, in reality, 90% of them die before having sufficient opportunities for diagnosis and treatment. Pointing out the fact that congenital heart diseases come in more than 200 types and that early and correct diagnosis is critically important, Sarıoğlu says, “Despite the fact that some congenital heart diseases are very complex and highly risky, we have a success rate of over 90% in treating them. Most of our patients continue leading their lives normally after the operation. Current technological means, as well as our medical experience, makes it possible for even extremely difficult cases that are sometimes claimed to be “impossible”, such as the conditions these Egyptian children were suffering from, can be treated successfully”. Professor Tayyar Sarıoğlu also states that families should avoid excessive worrying and have hope and trust, and notes that it is actually possible to treat many children who are suffering from heart diseases that are considered incurable.

The most complex and risky heart operations

Pointing out the fact that the risk of having a heart disease is 2 or 3 times higher for babies with a history of cardiac diseases in their immediate family members, Professor Tayyar Sarıoğlu states that the conditions in some of the Egyptian children were also genetically inherited ones. Sarıoğlu also informs us that they helped over 300 children ranging between a few days-old newborns to 20 year-olds through surgery, and says, “Most of these patients were children who had been suffering from the most complex and risky heart diseases and had undergone surgery two or three times before. They were referred to us because the necessary operations simply could not be performed in Egypt”.

The rate of success in treatment is at international standards

Underlining that Turkey is currently having a breakthrough in medical tourism and is able to accomplish even more successful results than Europe in pediatric cardiac surgery, Professor Tayyar Sarıoğlu makes the following remark on the subject: “We get much better results than the average results acquired in Europe. For instance, while the risk of mortality for this group of diseases and their surgeries is around 15% in European centers, the same risk in our facilities is lower than 5%. The role of an integrated system which involves cooperation by pediatric cardiology, intensive care, pediatric diseases and neonatology specialists, as well as many nurses and technicians, is very large in achieving such success in this field.”

Now they are referred to Turkey!

Noting that 1 in every 100 babies in the world is born with a congenital heart disease and that this is a very significant rate, Professor Tayyar Sarıoğlu says that the Egyptian children were among the patients referred to Turkey by the cardiologists in Egyptian universities, mainly the ones in Cairo University. Remarking that such patients, who would usually be referred to countries such as Germany, England, Italy and France in the past, are now coming to Turkey, Professor Tayyar Sarıoğlu says, “Knowing Turkey to be the reason behind the light of happiness that shines in the eyes of the children and their families is an indescribable joy”. Professor Sarıoğlu also states that he experienced unforgettable moments during the Cairo meeting with his hundreds of little Egyptian patients and their families, and says, “It was indeed the setting for a bridge of love, peace and friendship that was formed by hundreds of young hearts. I wish for the message given by the young hearts to lead to a great collaboration between Turkey and Egypt, as well as many wonderful beginnings in other areas”.